MinorityLand by Erlina Ortiz

“It quickly became clear that I was dumb to judge this play before I'd seen it, and I that had in fact judged it wrong. Minorityland was really good, and I strongly recommend catching it before it closes.” – Philadelphia CityPaper
MinorityLand tackles what it means to be a minority, what it means to be a community, and just how deeply our words and actions can effect those around us.
When...
“It quickly became clear that I was dumb to judge this play before I'd seen it, and I that had in fact judged it wrong. Minorityland was really good, and I strongly recommend catching it before it closes.” – Philadelphia CityPaper
MinorityLand tackles what it means to be a minority, what it means to be a community, and just how deeply our words and actions can effect those around us.
When the local university begins buying up houses in an integrated black and latino community, residents are pushed out, and the very fabric of the community is ripped apart. ​
"Its not about right or wrong, it's about who has the power." -MinorityLand
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MinorityLand

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  • Nick Malakhow:
    10 Oct. 2019
    “ What a wonderfully rendered exploration of gentrification and found family populated with dynamic and complex characters. I was most impressed by the nuanced and intersectionally rich cast that allowed for multi-layered conversations about privilege and identity. Ortiz also beautifully balanced comedy with drama, realism with some sublime and meta theatrical poetry. MinorityLand could be produced in any number of cities and speak to gentrification in an immediate and palpable way. I'd love to see this on its feet! ”
  • Nikki Brake-Silla:
    9 Oct. 2019
    “ This play grabs you from the first moment and takes you on an incredible journey that is filled with laughter and heartbreak. MINORITYLAND deftly tells the story of the impact of gentrification from the voices of those it affects most. It shows how hard it is when the "family" of the neighborhood is forced to leave but how you can make new family. There's no right answer to this problem but Erlina has given it breathe and a voice. Bravo! ”

Who’s who?
The Neighborhood-
MAMA JULIA: Latina woman. She is not the grandmother with candies in her pockets. She is the one who taught you how to cook when you were 5, and still has a plate of dinner for you every night no matter how much her body may be aching. She is ‘old school’ but not opposed to the new traditions. She is fighter at heart. She is the one you turn to for the hard to accept advice. She is a warm kitchen, a shoulder to cry on. She is a slap across the face if you don’t behave yourself.

OTIS: 17 year old black man. Otis knows everything. Or so he thinks. He doesn’t believe in second chances. He believes in the norm. If it’s not broke, why fix it. He is the leader, something about him commands attention. He is not the one to always come up with the great ideas, but he is the one to follow through with them to the bitter end.

GEORGE: Asian-American. The light hearted one. Tries to stay positive if not hilariously cynical. The follower. He is good at it to. The devoted side kick. The one most likely to silently suffer because his problems never seem important. He harbors a secret ambition.

DEBORAH: Otis’s older sister. The soulful one. A Mama Julia in training. Just a bit calmer. The hopeless romantic. The savior. The Caregiver. The mother without children. The outsider. The rational one. All the answers lie with her but she may not share them unless you truly deserve it.

The Newcomers-
SAXON: White man, early twenties. The little boy who watched the other little boys from his window. The quiet one. The weird kid. The confused one. The lost poet. Probably knows more than anyone thinks he does. The peacemaker. If he would have grown up in the 60s he would have been the best hippie you ever met. Make love not war. Comes from a lot of money, has never known what to do with the money. Doesn’t see it as a tangible thing. It was just something that was.

AMELIA: White (passing) woman, early twenties. The secret Latina. The studying girl. She is not the one you invite to the dance on Friday. She is probably the girl who get asked to tutor the cute football player who she falls for but then he never says hi to her in the hallway. She works hard for her grades. She resents her body. She resents her heritage. She seeks something in this world that makes sense, that doesn’t change. Numbers do that for her.

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Power Street Theatre Company
    ,
    2019
  • Fringe
    ,
    Power Street Theatre Company
    ,
    2013